Self-complementing gas tube accumulator



Oct. 6, 1959 C. B. STOTT ET AL SELF-COMPLEMENTING GAS TUBE ACCUMULATOR Filed May 28, 1954 POWER SUPPLY AMOUNT FIELD 3 Sheets-Sheet l START ACCUMULATOR CHECK CONTROL INVENTOR.

CHARLES B. STOTT PETER W. DAlNO ATTORNEY C. B. STOTT ETAL SELF-COMPLEMENTING GAS TUBE ACCUMULATOR Oct. 6,1959

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 28, 1954 ATTORNEY Oct. 6, 1959 c. B. STOTT ET AL SELF-COMPLEMENTING GAS TUBE ACCUMULATOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 28, 1954 IN V EN TOR. CHARLES B. STOTT [El 29526 l PETER W. DAlNO ATTORNEY 2,907,520 SELF COMP EMENTING GAS TUBE ACCUMULATOR Charles B} Stuff and' Peter W. Dainog-Endwel], N.Y., assignorsto International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Application May28, 1954, Serial No. 433,222 5 Claims. (Cl. 235-92) The presentinvention relates to accumulators and more particularly toa self-complementing accumulator. The illustrative embodiment includes as a part thereof a modified version of the self-complementing glow type accumulator disclosed in the copendingapplication to E. J.

Ra'oenda, -Serial No.306,983, filed'August 29, 1952, now

Patent No. 2,829,830.

The-selfcompleinenting glow transfer accumulatoraccording to said application is utilized to effect storage in responseto negative pulses representing postive and negative values. The accumulator includes ten digit representing cathodes, ten transfer cathodes, ten complement cathodes and a single anode commonito all cathodes.

.Storage' is effected by the transfer of a single glowdischarge from one digitrep'res'enting cathode to the next in step-by-step' fashion. All storage for both addition and subtraction is effected by glow transfer in a single direction along a singleglow transfer path. To effect such storage a number of input pulses are applied to the transfer catho'de equal to the true value of the number to be added or subtracted. For a subtractive operation the accumulator: is complemented prior to and after the- In the embodiment representing United States Patent ()1 glow transfer from the 7 cathode to the 2 cathode; etc.

In said Rabenda application there isan inherent disadvantage arisingfrom the use-of the "familiar 9s system of operation in which is employed the well-known endto-end carrying wherein a carryin the units order of an accumulator-is instituted in response to a 'carry operation being eliected' in the highest order of the accumulator. As will be more fully' appreciated in the illustration below, the most serious drawback in the employment of the endto-end carry occurs in so-called balancing or checking operations wherein positive amounts are balanced against negative amounts of like value to produce a zero balance. If in this balancing operation the negative amounts are entered prior to the entry'of the positive amounts the resulting'zero balance is expressed as all 9s. Conversely, when the positive amounts are entered before the negative Because of this ambiguous end result it has been necessary to provide additional and expensive balancing control apparatus which becomes ettectivein response to the detection of a 9 in the highest order position of the accumulator to cause the amount in the accumulator to- 2,907,520 7 Harassed oer. e, 1959 ADDING o4. PRIOR To SUBTRAGTING o4 Case R Case S Addition;

Acc. at start 0O 99 Add 04 04 04 04 93 Carry 11 B esultafter carry 04 04 Subtraction:

Ace. is complemented 95 95' d 04 04 04 p 99 99 Carr Result after carry End result after ace. is complemented 00 00 SUBTR'ACTING'OA PRIOR TO ADDING 04 Subtra'otioiii Ac'c'. atstart O0 99 Age. is complemented 99 00 Add04 04. 04 93 O4 rry 1- Resultafter carry 04 04 Ace. is complemented 95 95 Addition:

A'cld'04 04 04 Endr'e'sult'. 99 99 The present'inventionis directedto the provision of an improved syste'niwherehythe ambiguous result mentioned above is entirely eliminated regardless of whether a negative entry intd the accumulator is made 'subsequentto or p'rior to anadding operation. I 7

Another objectresidesfin an improved and greatly simplified system of" controlling' carry" operations.

Other objects of the'invention will be pointed out in the following description and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose, by way of examples; theprinciple of the inventionandthe best'mode, which hasbeeh contemplatedjof applying that principle.

In the drawings: Fig. l=is adiagrammatic"representationof one form of the invention.

Fig. 2 is'a' circuit diagrani showing two positions of an vit'ed" td'Figs: 4and 5 wherein are shown briefly the structure and'wiring as used for each" denominational ordered'position of such an accumulator.

Briefly; each denominational order as set forth in said Rabeiid'a case comprises a tube of the gaseous glow transfer type; wherein a singleglow discharge exists at all times within'the tubewhen the device is in operation.

Ten digitrepresenting cathodes designated D0' to D9 and the ten'transfer cathodes designated TO to T9 are alternately interspersed with one another 'to form a closed glow transfer path having tenstable glow discharge positionstl'ie'realong evidenced respectively by the' existence of-the-"glow discharge to each 'of the digit representing cathodes. A single anode'designated A is shown as a rectangle in Fig. 4 simply to designate that'it is equi distant-from thecathodes and 'common'to' all of them. The cathodes are each formed as open-ended cylinders (see Fig. 5) having a coating of different material on their inside and outside surfaces, so that a glow discharge between any cathode and the anode will automatically confine itself to the inside surface of the cathode at the open end nearest the anode.

A number of glow transfer wires t are provided, each of which is connected at one end to a cathode and has its other or free end extending into the space between another cathode and the anode, so that a continuous glow transfer path is formed with each of the cathodes forming a terminal for the glow discharge as it traverses the path. Each negative input pulse is applied simultaneously to all of the transfer cathodes, prefixed T, through a line designated 29 so that each negative pulse will cause a transfer of the glow discharge from one digit representing cathode D to an adjacent transfer cathode T and then to the other digit representing cathode D adjacent to that transfer cathode. Hence, when a glow discharge exists at a given digit representing cathode, it may be referred to as being in a position of stable glow discharge.

Within the tube are provided ten similarly formed complement cathodes prefixed by the designation C. Transfer wires 2 connect these complement cathodes into a preselected glow transfer relation with the digit cathodes. Glow transfer is provided for in either direction between each digit representing cathode D and the digit representing cathode corresponding to the 9s complement of the first. For example, the complement cathode C2 is arranged to transfer a glow discharge from the cathode D7 representing the digit 7 to the cathode D2 represent ing its 9s complement, and a further complement cathode C7 is arranged to transfer a glow discharge from the cathode D2 to its complement representing cathode D7.

The anode A of each tube is connected through a re-:

sistor not shown to a suitable source of positive voltage (+500 volts) on line 20. The complement cathodes, prefixed C, are connected together through a wire 21 common to all the tubes, which leads to Inversion Control Means 110. The digit representing cathodes D1 to D8 are connected together and through resistors not shown through a wire designated 22 to a suitable source. of voltage less positive than the source to which the anode is connected.

The cathode D0 is connected to a wire 26 which leads to a suitable positive voltage (+135 volts). The cathode D9 is connected by a wire 28 to a +135 volt source. The transfer cathodes T0 to T9 are connected together in each denominational order and in each order to a separate wire 29 extending to a controlled positive source.

For purposes of explanation, let it be assumed that initially a stable glow discharge exists between the cathode DO and the anode A. When a negative input pulse is applied to the input wire 29, for example, the voltage difference between the transfer cathode T1 and the anode A becomes greater than between cathode D0 and the anode, and the glow discharge is accordingly transferred along the transfer wire t attached to the cathode Tl until it arrives at the cathode T1. The glow discharge exists between the transfer cathode T1 and the anode only so long as the input pulse remains negative. When this pulse goes positive, the voltage difference between the transfer cathode T1 and the anode becomes less than that between the digit representing cathode D1 and the anode. Accordingly, the glow discharge is transferred from the cathode T1 over the transfer wire t attached to the cathode D1 and extending intermediate the cathode T1 and the anode, until it arrives at the cathode D1. The glow discharge remains in this stable position until the next input pulse is applied.

The next negative input pulse applied to line 29 causes a similar transfer of the glow discharge from the cathode D1 to the cathode D2 via the transfer cathode T2 and the intermediate transfer wires Similarly, the third input pulse causes the glow dis charge to be transferred to the digit representing cathode D3. The fourth input pulse causes a transfer of the glow discharge from the cathode D3 to the cathode D4. Subsequent input pulses cause the glow discharge to be transferred to the cathodes D5, D6, D7, D8, D9 and D0 in turn to complete the traverse of the glow transfer entry paths.

When the glow discharge arrives at the cathode D9 in response to the ninth input pulse, this cathode goes positive. The cathode D9 goes negative when the tenth input pulse is applied to cause the glow discharge to leave the cathode D9 on its way to the cathode D0 to complete the traverse of the glow transfer entry path.

' Hence, the output wire 28 goes positive when nine digits have been entered in an order and goes negative when storage of the tenth digit is begun.

If the digit standing in the order is in true form, it may be converted to its 9s complement and vice versa the complement'cathodes C0 to C9 inclusive. For eX- ample, if a glow discharge exists between the digit representing cathode D2'and the anode A and a negative pulse is applied to the wire 21,. the glow discharge will be 'transferred to the digit representing cathode D7.

Specifically, when this pulse goes negative, the glow discharge is transferred, over the transfer wire it connected to thecomplement cathode C2 and' extending intermediate the digit representing cathode D2 and the anode A,

'- and: arrives at the complement cathode C2. When this pulse goes positive, the glow discharge is transferred from the complement cathode C2, over the transfer Wire t attached to the cathode D7 and extending intermediate the cathode C2 and the anode, and arrives at the cathode D7 where it remains in a position of stable discharge until an input pulse is applied to the wire 29 or another negative pulse is applied to the wire 21.

If another negative pulse is next applied to the wire 21, a similar transfer of the glow discharge will occur to return it to a position of stable discharge at the cathode D2. This transfer is effected from the cathode D7 to the cathode D2 via the complement cathode C7 and the two associated transfer wires 2.. On the other hand, if an input pulse is next applied to the wire 29, the glow discharge will be transferred from the cathode D7 to the cathode D8.

The foregoing briefly describes the glow discharge tube as set forth in said Rabenda application and the manner in which it responds to negative impulses transmitted thereto for entry of amounts and for complementing or 'machine operations in any desired manner.

inverting the sum standing in the accumulator.

.In accordance with the invention the tens system of operation is used as the basis for operating the selfcomplementing glow discharge accumulator and to satisfy the principal object of the invention. In accordance with the tens system of operation a one is subtracted in the accumulator prior to any series of additive and/or subtractive operations, and on the cycle following the last entry into the accumulator a one is added into the accumulator to make up for the one subtracted at the outset. In view of this operation the value standing in the accumulator upon the completion of the last entry, assuming, of course, the positive entries are equal to the negative entries, will be represented by a 9 in each order position. The addition of a one on the cycle following the last entry cycle is used to cause a carry beginning with the units order and passing through all succeeding orders to the highest order from which the one" or carrysignal is available for use to control subsequent For the present the 'one signal is shown extending from the highest order position of the accumulator to a check controlblock to ground.

The tens system of operation mentioned above is characterized by the absence of the carry back from the highest order position to the lowest order position of g the accumuialor. In further accord with the system the manipulation to the one prior to and after the conclusion of all entry operations provides the necessary correction for the units order position in connection with the double complementing principle employed in'the selfcomplementing glow discharge accumulator described above.

For the purpose of amplifying the above the following illustration is presented showing in step-by-step fashion the operation of the accumulator caused by the entry of the amounts shown in Fig. 1.

Acc. at start 1st cycle subtract one 99 2nd cycle add 35 35 24 Carry l Acc. at end of carry 34 3rd cycle subtract 18 Acc. is complemented a- 65 Add 18 18 Carry 1 Ace. at end of carry 83 Result-after acc. is complemented 16 4th cycle subtract 17 Acc. is complemented 83 Add 17 l7 90 Carry 1 Ace. at end of carry 00 Acc. is complemented 99 th cycle add one 1 End result 00' The foregoing explains in general terms the arithmetic operation of the invention. Now there will be explained in greater detail the operations of the circuits.

Referring to Fig. 1, record cards shown herein are represented as being of the well-known type having a plurality of vertical columns with the usual ten digit representing positions designated 0 to 9 and two control positions designated 11 and 12.

The cards are fed successively from the usual supply hopper, not shown, through sets of feed rollers designated 39 which convey. the cards past a row of upper sensing brushes designated UB and then past a row of lower sensing brushes designated LB. The brushes make contact through the usual perforations with contact rollers 31 and 32 and are spaced vertically so that they concurrently sense the same index positions of successive cards, i.e., when the 9. position of one card is in line with brushes UB, the 9 position of the preceding card is in line with the brushes LB. The distance between the two rows of brushes is defined as a cycle which forms the basis of the timing of the machine.

The feed, as may be appreciated from the drawing of Fig. 1, is driven by 21 Motor which also drives. a series of cams, namely, C1 through C17, located in the rectangle designated Cam Unit Box and shown distributed througl1- out the wiring diagrams. These cams operate associated contact-s the timings of which are shown in heavy lines in a timing chart of Fig. 3.

The Motor is set into operation upon depressing the start key 1. It may be appreciated that while the start key contacts are held closed the Motor and hence the card feed will continue to feed cards. The feed will run automatically immediately after the first card encounters the usual card lever, here designated as 2, disposed in the path of the cards. The card lever operates an associated contact which in conjunction with cam contacts C4 causes a circuit to be established to pick up relay RSP. Upon closure of relay contacts RM and cam contacts C5, 21 hold circuit'for relay R3H is established. Shortly thereafter the closure of cam contacts C6 in conjunction with relay R317 contact points causes 6 a circuit to be established to energize relay R4P. A hold circuit for relay R4H is established immediately upon the closure of relay R411 contacts and cam contacts C7. The relays R3 and R4 are known as card lever control relays and the contact points controlled thereby particularly R3c and R4b control the supply of power at the appropriate times to the contact rolls 30 and 31, respectively. Upon closure of relay R4b contact points the Motor circuit will be closed and remain closed to provide a circuit which will keep the Motor in operation until the last card passes through the feed.

Referring to Fig. 1 the accumulator is represented in block form and is provided with entry control sockets 3c connected by plug wires, designated as 4, to LB brush sockets 5.

The subtraction operation is initiated when a control perforation (an 11 perforation) is sensed in a card by a sensing brush UB80. When the latter senses such a control perforation a subtract relay R2 is indirectly energized by means of a circuit beginning with a plus source located at the power supply shown in the upper lefthand corner of Fig. 1, and extending through line 11, cam contacts C10, relay R30 contact points, common brush 12, contact roll 31, UB connected to socket UBSil, plug wire 13, socket 14, cam contacts C16 (make at 11 time), relay RIP to ground. A hold circuit for relay RlI-I is established by means of a circuit beginning with ground and extending through RIH, relay Rla contact points, cam contacts C1 to line 10. Upon closure of relay R112 contact points and cam contacts C2 a circuit is established to pick up subtract relay RZP. Immediately thereafter upon closure of relay R2a contact points in conjunction with cam contact points C3 a circuit is established to energize relay RZH. The effect of the above is to provide a subtraction operation in a manner well-known by initiating the subtraction control by means of an X (11) perforation on one cycle to render the subtraction operation effective on the following cycle.

The perforation designated to control the subtraction operation is punched in column 80 of the card. The absence of this perforation in column 80 accordingly controls the accumulator for additive operations. The detailed manner for controlling the accumulator for addition and subtraction will be described later on under the description of the Accumulator.

Having set forth the basic controls for adding and subtracting there will now be considered in a diagrammatic manner the operation of the accumulator from the circuit diagram ofFig. 1. The operation of the accumulator is based on the tens system and in accordance with the preferred embodiment is controlled by a series of cards each of which includes a common amount field in which are punched the following amounts: card 1, 99; card 2, amount 35; card 3, amount 18; card 4, amount 17; card 5, not shown, is punched with control perforation (X-78) which is used to control the adding of a one into the accumulator. Card 6, also not shown, is punched with a perforation (X-79) which controls readout from the accumulator. Cards 3 and 4 are each further provided with an X perforation in column 80 to control the accumulator for subtraction. Cards 1 and 2 control the accumulator for addition. The first card is merely used as an expedient to add 99 in the accumulator. The adding of 99 is the equivalent of subtracting one in the tens system.

In accordance with the sequence of the cards passing through the feed, operations are as follows: Card 1 causes the accumulator to add 99 (this being the equivalent of subtracting a one). Card 2 causes amount 35 to be added. Card 3 causes amount 18 to be subtracted. Card 4 causes amount 17 to be subtracted. Card 5 causes a one to be added while card 6 causes readout operations to be effected. It may be noted that following the entry of the last amount -17, the accumulator will have standing therein a result of99. On the fol lowing cycle and under control of card a one will be added to cause the accumulator to advance each order position to zero by means of carry circuits later to be explained in greater detail on the accumulator. The circuit for initiating the adding of the one may begin at LB socket 78 and continue through plug wire 19, cam contact C15 (makes at 11), relay R5 to ground. Upon closure of relay R5a contact points in conjunction with cam contacts C8 a hold circuit is established for relay R5. A one impulse is issued by means of a circuit traceable through cam contacts C9 and relay R5b contact points through the accumulator, a check control unit to ground. The check control unit may take the form of any signal manifesting means, relay or other signal responsive means. This one impulse is effective at the time shown for C9 in the timing chart to cause, in a manner to be described under Accumulator, each order of the accumulator to'advance from 9 to 0.

Readout operations are under control of an X perforation in column79 of card 6. The circuit for effecting readout may begin with UB79 and extend through plug wire 20, socket 21, cam contacts C14 (makes at 11), through relay R8P to ground. Upon closure of relay R8a contact points in conjunction with cam contacts C13 a circuit is effected to energize relay R8H. Additional points associated with relay R8 are shown in the circuit diagram of Fig. 2 and will be discussed in greater detail under the description of the Accumulator."

Accumulator Referring to Fig. 2, there are shown the details of the circuits and components associated with two order positions of the accumulator controlled in accordance with the tens system. Although the accumulator may contain any number of order positions it is felt that the showing of only two positions is sufficient to disclose the features of the invention.

Each order position of the accumulator includes a selfcomplementing glow discharge tube 40 of the type set forth in said Rabenda application, the tube being slightly modified in order to accommodate the principal features of the invention, a reed-in tube 60, and a carry tube 80. A pulse generator 100 is employed to supp-1y timed positive pulses to the accumulator for controlling the various operations such as adding, subtracting and readout. Each order position has a read-in entry socket 3c and a readout socket 3d. (It may be pointed out that where like reference characters are used for corresponding elements in both order positions, the reference characters in the tens order are primed to distinguish them from the same characters in the units order.)

The structure of the tube 40 is basically the same as that used in said Rabenda application and further seen in Fig. 4 of the instant application with but slight variations in wiring as mentioned above. In Fig. 2 of the instant application said tube 40 is represented in somewhat of a diagrammatic form. Within each tube 40 there are shown six cathode elements. Reading from right to left, the first cathode designated D9 represents the 9 digit representing cathodes. The second cathode designated Dl-S represents 8 digit representing cathodes, namely, 1 through 8. The third cathode designated D0 represents the zero digit representing cathode. The fourth cathode designated C represents complecent cathodes. The fifth cathode designated T19 represents 9 transfer cathodes, namely, T0-1 through T8-9. The last cathode designated T90 represents the transfer cathode located intermediate the 9 digit representing cathode and the zero digit representing cathode.

The digit representing cathodes of each tube 40, 40 are connected in common to an RC network comprising capacitor 41 (.05 mfd.) and resistor 42 (39,000 ohms) both connected to relay R941 contact points, the latterin turn being connected to terminal 43 from which one path ex- 8 tends along wire 43a to cathode 61 of tube 60 associated with the units order, and another path extends along to the 48 v. supply by way of resistor 43b (2700 ohms).

Cathode C, representing ten cathodes as explained above, is connected to a resistor 44 in turn connected to either a +125 v. source or a +55 v. source by virtue of connections extending from said resistor 44, relay R9b normally closed points and relay R6a contact points, the normally closed side of R6a being connected to i+125 v. whereas the normally open side of R6a is connected to +55 v.

The cathode Tl-9, representing nine transfer cathodes, is connected to a resistor 45 in turn supplied by either +55 v. or +125 v. The +55 V. source is fed to the transfer cathodes by way of a circuit extending from the +55 v. source, R6b' normally closed contact points, wire 49, terminal 47, wire 46, resistor 45 to the transfer cathodes T1-9. The +125 v. source is supplied to terminal 47 by way of the normally open contact points of relay R622 and wire 49. The resistors 44, 45 and 50 are each of 27,000 ohms resistance.

The T9-0 cathode is also connected to terminal 47 by way of resistor 50 and the relay R9c normally closed contact points, accordingly, this transfer cathode is energized by the same voltages fed to terminal 47 except for resetting operations in which event only 48 v. is supplied to said cathode. Anodes 75 and 75, each common to their respective cathodes, are connected to a source of 400 v. by way of an associated resistor .112 and 112, respectively.

Each tube 60, 60 is a thyratron having a heated cathode, the heater being supplied by a suitable voltage, not shown. Eachtube 60, 60' further includes a plate 64, a shield grid 63, a control grid 62 and cathode 61. The shield grid 63 is connected to either a v. source or a +55 v. source. For adding operations, the shield grid 63 is connected to +55 v. by a circuit including resistor 65, relay R10a normally closed contact points, relay R7a normally closed contact points, to +55 v. For carry operations occurring at X time, the shield grid 63 is connected to 100 v. by way of a circuit extending through resistor 63, relay R10a normally closed contact points, relay R7a normally open contact points to 100 v. During correction time, i.e., when the one is admitted to the units order, the shield grid 63 is connected to +55 v. by means of a circuit extending through resistor 63, relay R10a normally open contact points to +55 v. The shield grid 63 in the tens order is connected to the shield grid 63 by means of a circuit including resistor 65, relay R5b normally closed contact points, line 66, resistors 67 and 68. Accordingly, shield grid 63' is energized along with shield grid 63 except during the correction time at which time 100 v. is supplied to the shield grid 63 by way of relay R5b normally open contact points, line 66, resistors 67 and 68 to said shield grid 63.

The control grid 62 has a connection to the entry socket 3c by means of a wire 69 and a resistor 70 (150,000 ohms). Another circuit to the control grid 62 extends to a positive voltage source by means of a circuit including wire 71, resistor 72 (300,000 ohms), wire 73, a pair of contact points wired in parallel, namely, R7b and R6c both wired to said positive source by means of wire 74. The control grid 62 is also connected to the cathode 61 by means of a capacitor 76 (2000 mmfd.) the latter serving to by-pass spurioustransients which may occur in the system. In addition, the control grid 62 has yet another connection to a positive source by way of a resistor 113. The control grid 62' also has a circuit to a positive source by way of resistors and 114.

The plate 64 along with the plate 64 of the tube 60 in the tens order position are connected to the pulse generator 100 by means of a circuit including wire 77, relay R8c, relay RSd, and relay R20.

The carry tube 80 is' also a thyratron having a heated cathode the heater being supplied by suitable supply 9 voltage not shown. The tube '80 includes a cathode 81, control grid 82, and anode 83 which is connected to a positive source of +55 v. along wire 84 and cam contacts C17. The cathode 81 has a connection extending to the readout socket 30 by way of relay R8b normally open contact points. Another circuit from the cathode 81 extends to the -48 v. source by way of the relay R8b normally closed contact points and a resistor 85 (4700 ohms). Another circuit from said cathode 81 extends to the shield grid of the tube 60' in the tens order position of the accumulator. The latter circuit includes wire 86, an RC network comprising capacitor 87 (220 mmfd.) and resistor 88 (1,000,000 ohms) and i the resistor 68.

The control grid 82 is connected by means of a capacitor 89 (5000 mmfd.) to the transfer cathode T9-0 of the tube 40 in the units order position of the acmulator.

In the lower right-hand corner of Fig. 2 there are seen a pair of relays, namely, R6 and R7. The former is under control of a subtract relay point R2d and a cam contact C12. The latter is controlled by cam contact C11. In accordance with the control exercised on relay R6 it may be appreciated that during subtraction the voltage impressed on the complement cathodes and the transfer cathodes are switched to place the complement cathodes in control of'the transfer of the glow discharge for the complementing operations prior to and subsequent to an entry of an amount in the accumulator. During adding operations it may be appreciated that the relay R6 remains de-energized. Accordingly, the transfer cathodes are impressed with +55 v. to exercise control of the glow transfer. The relay R6c contact points supply positive voltage to the control grids 62, 62' of both tubes 60, 60, during the complementing operations.

The relay R7 under control of cam contacts C11 supplies said control grids 62, 62 with a positive voltage during carry time (X-time) of the cycle as well as during correction time, i.e., when the one is admitted to the units order.

' In the upper left-hand corner of Fig. 2 there is shown a reset circuit comprising a reset key which when operated causes the relay R9 to be energized. When this occurs a reset operation is initiated to reset the accumulator to zero. The energization of relay R9 accordingly opens up the circuits to all the cathodes except the T9-0 transfer cathode, the latter being impressed with 48 volts. Under these conditions the glow discharge in the tube 60 will seek the T9-0 transfer cathode because of the fact that the greatest voltage drop exists between the T9 transfer cathode and the anode. When the reset key is released to de-energize relayR9 the glow discharge advances to and comes to rest between the zero digit representing cathode and the anode.

Entry into the accumulator is made in the manner earlier described under control of the cards passing through the feed. Entry is made in the manner shown by way of plug wires 4, 4 connecting the plug socket LBS, LBS to the plug socket 30, 3c.

Readout is shown in simplified form in connection with print magnets I01, 101' each having a socket such as 102 connected by means of plug wire 103 to the readout socket 3d. These print magnets represent stopping magnets of well-known differential printing or other form of recording mechanism and will in the well-known manner position type members moving in timed relation with the card feed in response to differentially timed impulses.

The pulse generator 100 represented in block form comprises four units, namely, A, S, C and R, each capable of supplying a series of positive pulses as shown in the timing chart of Fig. 3. During adding operations line 77 is supplied by positive pulses issued by unit A along the path including relay R2c normally closed contact points, relay R5d normally closed contact points, and relay R normally closed contact points. During subtraction line 77 is impressed with positive pulses issued by unit S through a path including relay R2c normally open contact points, relay RSd normally closed contact points and relay R8c normally closed contact points. During the cycle in which the one impulse is added the line 77 is under control of unit C which delivers a positive pulse by means of a path including relay R5d normally open contact points and relay R80 normally closed contact points. During readout operations the linev 77 is impressed with positive pulses issued by unit R through the relay R80 normally open contact points.

During an adding operation the shield grids 63, 63 of the read-in tube 60, 60' are primed each with a positive voltage in the manner described. Positive pulses are supplied to the plates of these tubes by means of unit A of the pulse generator. The read-in tubes will be energized in accordance with the time that a positive signal is entered into each associated entry socket 30, 3c. After a read-in tube has been energized the re maining positive pulses issued by the pulse generator and impressed on the plate thereof are passed through the tube by way of the cathode, line 43a, terminal 43, relay R9a normally closed contact points, capacitor 41 to digit representing cathodes of the associated tube 60. The application of a positive pulse to the digit representing cathodes causes the glow discharge within the tube 60 to advance to the next transfer cathode. Upon the cessation of the pulse the glow discharge advances from the transfer cathode to the next succeeding digit representing cathode. The step-by-step advance of the glow discharge is accomplished in the same manner as that described except that positive pulses are supplied to the digit representing cathodes as opposed to the method of applying negative pulses to the transfer cathodes in the manner set forth in said Rabenda application, the latter necessitating a more complex circuit arrangement.

When during the adding portion of the cycle the glow discharge advances from the 9 digit representing cathode to the zero digit representing cathode it, of course, must traverse the T90 transfer cathode. When this occurs a, positive pulse is issued and accordingly passed through capacitor 89 to the control grid 82 of the carry tube 80 causing the latter to fire and thereby raising the potential of the shield grid 63 of the readin tube60' in the tens order position of the accumulator. The rise in potential is passed on to said shield grid by way of the circuit including relay R8b normally closed contact points, wire 86, resistor 88, RC network including resistor 88 and capacitor 87, to said shield grid 68.

At this point it may be appreciated that the adoption of the T9-0 transfer cathode for the carry output as, opposed to the use of the 9 digit representing cathode for the carry output as shown in said Rabenda case, enables the positive output from the tube to be applied with a minimum of apparatus, namely, a capacitor, to the carry tube. In the correspond-ingc ircuit of said Rabenda case it was necessary to provide a relatively expensive pulse inverter in addition to the capacitor to accommodate the carry operation.

At carry time (X-time) a positive pulse is applied to the plates of the read-in tubes in the manner earlier described. Also a positive pulse is applied to the control grids of the readain tubes. In the case of the tens order position, said positive pulse is applied along a path which begins with the control grid 62' in the read-in tube 60' and extends through resistors and 106, line 107, relay R7b normally open contact points, line 74, to the positive supply. At the same time a l00 v. is applied to the shield grids of the read-in tubes 60, 60 under control ofthe circuits previously explained. This negative voltage is suflicient to preventthe read-in tube in the units position from firing. The read-in tube in the tens order position will fire in spite of the l00 v. 'being applied to its shield grid. The reason that the --100 v. does not exert suflicient negative influence on the shield grid in the tens order position tube 60 is because of the preponderant positive influence exercised by the energized carry tube in the units order position of the accumulator. Upon the firing of said read-in tube 60', a carry pulse passes through said read-in tube and is impressed upon the digit representing cathodes of the tube 40' in the tens order position of the accumulator thus causing the glow discharge to advance one more step as a result of a carry initiated by the units order.

During a subtraction operation the tubes 40, 40 are complemented prior to and immediately after a positive entry. The complementing operation is effected by energizing the complement cathodes by impressing thereon +55 v. under control of relay R6 energized in the manner described. Referring to the time chart of Fig. 3 specifically to the timing for the unit S it may be noted that the first pulse occurs at the beginning of a cycle between and 9. At this time of the cycle the relay R6 is energized by cam contacts C12. With this set of conditions +55 v. is impressed on the complement cathodes while +l25 v. is impressed on the transfer cathodes. The same condition occurs at between 252 and 26l of the same cycle. In the portion of the cycle between these two timing intervals the relay R6 is de-energized to permit +55 v. to be impressed on the transfer cathodes while +125 v. is impressed on the complement cathodes. In view of this the first complementing operation causes the glow discharge to advance from a particular digit representing cathode to the next adjacent complement cathode and from that complement cathode the glow discharge is advanced to the digit representing cathode representing the 9s complement value of the value assigned to the digit representing cathode from where the glow discharge was stepped. The same operation takes place for the complementing operation occurring between 252 and 261 of the subtraction cycle.

In accordance with the invention, the signal to cause the one to be added during the correction cycle is initiated under control of an X perforation in column 78 of the card. The X perforation causes the relay R5,

in Fig. l, to be energized. Upon closure of the relay' Rb contact points of the cam contact C9,v relay R10 is accordingly energized from between 252 and 261 of the cycle. During this interval of time the read-in tube '60 is energized by virtue of the fact that a positive pulse is applied to the plate 64 by means of unit R of the pulse generator 100. The control grid 62 is also energized with a positive voltage while the shield grid 63 is also under the influence of a positive voltage by means of a circuit previously explained. With this set of conditions, the tube 60 is fired to cause a positive pulse to be impressed on the digit cathodes of tube 40. Should the latter be standing at 9, the positive pulse just applied causes the glow discharge in said tube 40 to advance from 9 to 0. Accordingly, the 9T-0 transfer cathode issues a positive pulse to energize tube 80. The latter in turn energizes the read-in tube eventhough the shield grid 63 had been under the influence of +100 v. Upon the firing of tube 60, a positive pulse is accordingly impressed upon the digit cathode of the tube 40' in the tens order. Should the latter also be standing at 9, the one pulse is issued from the 9T-0 transfer cathode by way of relay RSc contact points to the Check Control to ground. At the same time the tube 40' adva-nces from 9 to 0. The admission of the one pulse in the units order during the correction cycle accordingly provides an output pulse from the highest order position of the accumulator whenever each order of the accumulator is standing at 9. 5

When the accumulator is at some other value, positive for example, the addition of the one pulse brings the value in the accumulator to its true result.v On the other band, should the accumulator be at a negative value 12 the one pulse causes said value to be expressed in tens complement form. 5.

The readout operation as earlier explained is initiated under control of a card to cause in the manner setv forth energization of the relay R8. Upon closure of relay R8c contact points ten pluses issued by unit R are impressed on line 77 to the plates of the read-in tubes. Upon closure of relay R8d contact points, a positive voltage is applied to the control grids 62, 62 of each of the read-in tubes 60, 60'. A typical circuit extends from the voltage, through line 74, relay R8d contact points, line 73., resistor 72, line 71 to the control grid 62 of the tube 60 in the units ord'er position of the accumulator. The circuit to energize the control grid in tube 60' of the tens order positionincludes said control grid 62, resistors 105 and 106, line 107, relay R8d contact points, line 74 to the positive voltage source. Also during the readout opera tion, the control grids 63 and 63' are energized by means of the circuits previously explained in conjunction with an adding operation. Each tube 60, 60' applies ten positive pulses to its associated tube 40, 40' to cause the glow discharge in each of the latter to advance ten steps, during which advance each glow discharge passes through the 9 position and returns to' its initial position. In passing from the 9 position through the 0 position, the T9-0 transfer cathode is energized to cause a positive pulse to pass through capacitor 89 in the case of the units order, and 89' in the case of the'tcns order. In the latter, the pulse energizes the control grid 82, while in the former the pulse energizes the control grid 82. In accordance with the time of energization of each tube 80, a readout pulse is issued by each tube to cause printing of the value standing in each associated order of the accumulator. Since relay contacts R812 and R8e are now trans ferred a typical printing circuit, for example in the units order position, extends through tube 80, cathode 81, relay R811 normally open contact points, readout socket 3d, plug wirel03, socket 102, print magnet 101 to ground.

Resetting the accumulator to zero is effected in the manner described by depressing the reset key thereupon energizing relay R9. Accordingly, the contact points R9a, R9b, R9d and R9e open up to isolate all the complement and digit representing cathodes. The contact points R9c and R9 transfer to isolate the nine transfer cathodes Tl9. At the same time 'a 48 volt source under control of the relay contact points R90 and R9f is impressed on each T9-O transfer cathode of the accumulator to cause the glow discharge to advance to said cathodes. When the reset key is released, relay R9 is de-energized. The glow discharge accordingly advances to zero upon the restoration to normal of the contact points controlled by the relay R9.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a counting device for accumulating positive and negative values represented by an appropriate number of positive pulses; a voltage. source having a plurality of. terminals for supplying different voltages; a counter of the self-complementing glow transfer type, including an anode connected to said voltage source, ten digit representing cathodes arranged in a closed path, each defining a position of stable glow discharge and representing the digits 0-9 respectively, ten transfer cathodes, each intermediate a different pair of digit representing cathodes pertaining to adjacent values in the scale 09 and coupled to their related digit representing cathodes to effect glow transfer in one direction in said path from one to the other, and ten complementing glow transfer cathodes coupled each between each digit representing cathode and the digit representing cathode representing a complement of the digit represented by the former cathode to effect glow transfer complementally; means for applying said pulses to be accumulated to said digit representing cathodes; means including switching means normally connecting said transfer cathodes and said complementing glow transfer cathodes respectively to relatively less positive and more positive terminals of said voltage source whereby thetransfer cathodes are rendered effective to control the glow transfer during the accumulation of the positive pulses representing positive values; and means for controlling said switching means prior to and after the accumulation of positive pulses representing negative values for transposing said connections whereby the complement cathodes are rendered effective to control the glow transfer complementally prior to and after the accumulation of positive pulses representing the negative values.

2. The invention set forth in claim 1 wherein said complementing glow transfer cathodes are coupled between each digit representing cathode and the digit representing cathode representing the 9s complement of the digit represented by the former cathode.

3. In a cyclically controlled counting device of the class described for effecting addition and subtraction, each cycle including an adding portion and a carry portion;'a plurality of order positions; each order positionincluding entry control means, a pulse counter, and carry means; said entry control means comprising a gaseous discharge device including a plate, a first control grid, a second control grid, and a cathode follower output; said pulse counter having an output and an input, the latter being connected to the cathode follower of the associated entry control means; said carry means comprising a gaseous discharge device having a plate, a cathode follower output, and a control grid, the latter being connected to the output of the associated counter, said cathode follower being connected to the second control grid of the entry control means in the next higher order position; a first network connecting said first control grids; a second network connes g a d econd nt o g d a SQurce of po ve voltage; a source of negative voltage; controlled means for connecting said second network to said source of positive voltage during the adding portion of each cycle, and to said source of negative voltage during the carry portion of each cycle, and for connecting said first network to said source of positive voltage during the carry portion of each cycle whereby during the adding portion of each cycle said first and second networks are efiective to render said entry means effective, and whereby during the carry portion of each cycle the second network is effective to disable said entry means to each order conditioned upon the absence of a carry to said order, and non-effective to disable said entry means in each order conditioned upon the presence of a carry to that order.

4. The invention set forth in claim 3 in which said counter is a self-complementing counter including means under control of each negative amount destined for subtraction for complementing said self-complementing counter prior to and after the entry of the negative amount during the subtraction cycle.

5. The invention set forth in claim 3 wherein said counter is a self-complementing glow transfer discharge type including an anode, ten digit representing cathodes, each defining a position of stable glow discharge and representing the digits 0-9 inclusive, ten transfer cathodes, each intermediate two digit representing cathodes and coupled thereto to effect glow transfer in one direction from one digit representing cathode to the other, and complementing glow transfer means coupled between each digit representing cathode and the digit representing cathode representing the 9s complement of the digit represented by the former cathode and capacitive means to couple the output from said self-complementing glow counter from the transfer cathode intermediate the 9 digit representing cathode and the zero digit representing cathode to the control grid in the carry means of the same order position.

2,591,008 2,598,677 Depp June 3, 1952 -e.--'.""r--r-'.-.-?--:- 

